"Neither ISAF's name nor ISAF's mission will change. The mission will continue to operate under the United Nations mandate and the ISAF banner and the (NATO) alliance will continue to welcome non-NATO members of ISAF," the ISAF German spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Loebbering, said.

"Yesterday NATO decided to enhance its support for ISAF," Loebbering told reporters at a press conference.

"This means that NATO agreed to take over the lead in the command, coordination and planning of the ISAF operation starting with ISAF IV mid-August this year," Loebbering said.

NATO's assumption of command and coordination of the peacekeeping force would not affect its mission, said the colonel.

ISAF, which operates under a United Nations mandate, has patrolled Kabul and its environs since its creation in December 2001 following the fall of the Taliban militia.

Germany and the Netherlands took over joint control of the force from Turkey on February 10 and their six-month term expires on August 10.

ISAF comprises some 4,600 troops from 29 countries, including about 2,300 German military and 600 Dutch soldiers, and provides assistance to Afghan authorities in securing Kabul.

Berlin had urged NATO to take over the leadership role at the end of the mandate in August, but other countries including France and Belgium had expressed reservations.

NATO is currently undergoing a radical transformation, from a Cold War-era alliance whose actions have been geographically limited to a post-September 11 force focussed on threats worldwide.

At a landmark summit in Prague last year it agreed to expand to take in seven former Communist countries, while also approving the creation of a rapid Response Force (NRF) ready for combat missions anywhere around the globe.

Wednesday's decision is the first time since NATO's creation in 1949 that it has agreed to take command of a mission outside the North Atlantic area.

Security remains a major concern for the government of President Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan struggles to overcome decades of conflict and warlordism.

ISAF's compound in Kabul was hit in a rocket attack last month, while US Special Forces also came under attack in the southeastern province of Kandahar.

Kandahar is the heartland of the Taliban regime, which was toppled by a US-led coalition following the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington masterminded by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

SPACE.WIRE